Beyond the Short Official Premiere

When Maggie invites a stranger into her home, she is confronted with the very thing she has been trying to avoid.

FROM THE DIRECTOR

“Walls Like Windows illustrates how isolation affects grief and how, without fail, we turn to the administrative tasks at hand as a means of distraction from adequately processing trauma.

The sudden passing of my grandfather, coupled with a global pandemic that left millions unable to mourn friends and relatives, pushed me to explore how we try to address moments of grief when left without the fundamental support systems necessary to cope with trauma. Witnessing the aftermath of my grandfather’s passing, and the rushed funeral that followed, I became struck by the chaos and often comedic absurdity that arose when we attempt to juggle the administrative and logistical responsibilities of burying a loved one.

The film opens by presenting us with a slew of details that we are left to decipher: an eccentric woman in her 60s hiring an escort for the afternoon, what is she digging and why and what is going on under the surface? We become caught up in this plan that Maggie has concocted to try and keep the reality of her situation at bay. Once Leon arrives and discovers the truth, Maggie is forced to confront the very thing she is trying to avoid.

Ultimately, the film aims to highlight the importance and innate need we all have for human connection and empathy as we navigate trauma; exemplifying just how significant an unlikely connection between two complete strangers can be.”

-Werner Vivier